Worcester police say suspect had cocaine and knife

WORCESTER 
A Worcester man arrested after a caller reported he was acting suspicious faces weapon and drug charges.

Manuel Rivera, 59, of 28 Merrimack St. is expected to be arraigned Tuesday in Worcester District Court on charges of carrying a dangerous weapon and trafficking in a controlled substance, between 14 and 27 grams.

Mr. Rivera was arrested Saturday at 2:36 a.m. near Newbury and Pleasant streets after a police officer responding to a call about a suspicious person saw him tossing a small clear plastic bag on the ground in front of the passenger door of the police cruiser. The baggie appeared to contain about 19 grams of cocaine.

Police said the man had his hands in his pockets when the officer confronted him. When he took his hands out of his pockets, one hand had a beer can and the other a knife. He then dropped the knife on orders from the officer and was arrested.